Chain



Sept. 2, 1930. w. B. LASHAR 1,774,753

CHAIN Filed May 24. 1926 INVENTOR WaZZerB Lasha r' ATTORNEY PatentedSept. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER B. LASHAR, 0FFAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR To AMERICAN CHAIN COMPANY, A001%?ORATION OF NEW YORK CHAIN Application filed May 24, 1926. SerialNo. 111,336,

This invention relates to chain and is of particular utility whenembodied in the construction of a chain in which strands of wire ofsuitable length are bent to form open links respectively, the ends ofthe several strands being bent across each other to close one end of thelink and these ends being also bent to form eyes extending beyond theopen portion of the link and surrounding the closed end of the adjacentlink to effect articulation of the links. I contemplate however the useof my improvements wherever they are adapted by their nature in theformation of chains.

An important object of the invention is to provide for securing togetherthe eye portions of the above described type of link in such a mannerthat a very strong connection will be effected, and so that the eyeswill not only be prevented from lateral separation from each other buteach eye will be prevented from opening relatively to the enclosedportion of the connected link.

For this purpose I prefer to weld together the adjacent portions of theeyes throughout a region extending around a considerable portion oftheir contlguous peripheries, and this welding may desirably extendsutliciently within the contact area of the eyes to insure a thoroughunion.

The above objects and others will be described and illustrated fully inthe accom' panying specification and drawings and pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of seve 'al links of a chain in theconstruction of which my invention has been embodied.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of one of thelinks.

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of one of the links on an enlargedscale, showing the welded region.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the parts designatedrespectively by the reference character 1 are strands or parts of metalwire, each formed into an open link, the sides 2 of which, and theclosed end 3, preferably occupy substantially the same plane.

I have shown a form of link in which the ends 4 of the strand are bentinwardly toward each other to close the other end of the link, so thatthe end 5 thus closed is substantially in the same plane with the bodyof the link. The ends of the strands are then bent around in oppositedirections to form eyes 6 and 7 lying closely adjacent in planesparallel with each other and on each side of the medial transverselongitudinal plane passing through the link, being therefore at rightangles to the general plane of the open link portion or body of thelink.

These eyes are formed preferably as suitable step in the general processof manufacstantial portion of the contiguous periphery of the eyes, asshown in detail in Fig. 3, the weld extending to a suiiicient extentbetween the contiguous faces of the eyes to insure a thorough metallicunion therebetween.

The welding operation may be carried out by any suitable means, whichneed not be illustrated herein, inasmuch as suitable mechanism for thispurpose is well-known to those versed in the art of making chains, andthe chain formed in accordance with my novel process constitutes anextremely strong articulated device in which the component links arecapable of resisting much higher strains than where the links are formedwith eyes lacking the metallic union above described.

I claim:

1. A chain link comprising a wire bent upon itself to form an open bodyportion, and having portions of said wire crossed to close said link,the portions of said wire eX- tending beyond said crossing being formedinto contiguous, concentric eyes by bending in reverse directions saidextended portions, each eye, including the end of the wire forming saideye, being completely formed in a single plane and said eyes beingunited nietallically.

2. A chain link comprising a Wire bent upon itself to form an open bodyportion, and having portions of said Wire crossed to close said link andextended beyond a plane passing through thecrossing:itrightanglestothebody portion to form contiguiinns, concentriceyes, said extended portions being bent in reverse directions and weldedtogether each eye, including the end of the Wire forming said eye, beingcompletely formed in a single plane on the opposite side of saidcrossing plane from the body portions of which said eyes respec tivelyform extensions. y

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

VALTER B. LASHAR.

